Meeting may spark industrial action

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A meeting today may spark industrial action by 160 council staff over the right of their union to negotiate pay for them.

Public Service Association members yesterday voted strongly to reject Hamilton City Council's offer to settle collective agreement negotiations, excluding remuneration.

PSA national secretary Brenda Pilott said an urgent meeting had been sought - and agreed by council negotiators - today to try and avert action.

Stop work meetings had voted "by a large margin" to endorse industrial action, she said.

Council chief executive Barry Harris has emailed elected members explaining his position.

"The PSA wish to negotiate salary movements on behalf of their members and this year included a CPI increase. The HCC position is that all salaried staff operate under a pay for performance system. This does not form part of the employment agreement."

He said council also had collective agreements with AWUNZ and First Union.

"The AWUNZ was agreed last year and has a two year cycle. The First Union collective is in the process of being signed. Both these agreements are for waged staff."